"Spot! Come quick!"

"What do ya want Smoke? I ain't playin' no games with youse," Spot said, glancing towards the small boy.

"It ain't for a game! It's Lip!"

Spot sighed, "If he picked a fight with Slugger again, I ain't gonna stop it. I warned him last time that I was done gettin' him outta jams, if he was badmouthin' Slugger then the two of them needs to settle it themselves. Slugger gives him a black eye, that's fair."

"No, it ain't Slugger! It's three other boys! He was pickin' at 'em and theyse went after him!" Smoke cried.

Spot shrugged. "That's fair too. He's gotta learn what happens when you talks to people like that. If that comes back with some bruises, so be it. 'Sides, he's a good enough fighter, he's gonna be okay."

"No Spot! Theyse real big, and they ain't stoppin'! He ain't awake no more! Youse gotta stop it!" Smoke cried, but immediately quieted and looked away. No one told Spot what to do. He wrung his hands nervously as Spot eyed him carefully.

"He ain't conscious?"

"No sir, not any more. He went out, that's when I left to get youse."

Spot thought for a second, then looked at the other boys who sat around the outside of the lodging house. "Bull, Grit! Get over here! You two is comin' with me! Cards, youse in charge 'til I get back!"

The two boys that Spot had called got up and moved toward him without question. Cards gave a quick nod, brown hair flopping onto his face, and he moved to sit in the 'boss chair'.

"C'mon Smoke, show us where he is."

The dark haired boy led them out the door and down to the docks quickly.

"Slow down there Smoke, what's the rush?" Grit asked.

"Is we gonna crack skulls?" Bull asked excitedly, cracking his knuckles.

"We'll see," Spot said.

Smoke led them down to the furthest dock which was always empty except for newsies. Smoke pointed at the boys who stood on it. They laughed as they gave a few last kicks to what appeared to be a bundle of clothes.

Spot made his way closer after telling Smoke to hang back a bit. Spot was near the end of the dock before any of the boys noticed him. "What do you fellas think you're doin'?" Spot growled.

Two of the boys shot forward, Spot allowing them to pass as he grabbed the third boy who was considerably slower. He gave Grit and Bull a signal to follow them and the boys sped after them. Spot moved closer to the third boy who'd been too slow, his hand wrapped around the boy's arm tightly.

"So, youse think it's fun to beat a boy after he can't fight back no more?" Spot's eyes flashed in anger and the boy flinched back, his face drained of all color and laughter.

"I asked youse a question boy, and I thinks that you'd better answer it."

"N-no," the boy stuttered as Spot leaned closer to him.

"Then why was ya doin' it?"

"H-Hook said t-to. He s-said it's intimidatin'."

"There's nothin' scary or powerful about someone who can only win if the other man's unconscious. That's just pitiful," Spot's other hand gripped the boy's collar, pulling him down a few inches to his own height. "You said 'Hook' told ya to do this?"

The boy nodded. "Please don't hurt me," he mumbled, eyes shut. Spot responded by pulling his face even closer.

"Now you listen to me and you listen good," Spot snarled. "You hurt one of my boys and now youse gonna pay. You go back and tell that stinkin' coward that this means war!" He gave the boy a solid punch to the stomach, causing him to double over, then he shoved him onto the dock.

The boy didn't move, instead he waited as Spot picked Lip up off the dock, finally getting up as Spot carried the bloodied boy over to Smoke.

Spot and Smoke headed to the lodging house, Spot carrying Lip carefully over his shoulder. The boy still hadn't moved, but Spot could feel the slight rise and fall of his chest, leaving him without worry.

"Were you serious Spot?" Smoke asked quietly.

"'Bout what?"

"'Bout havin' a war with Bronx."

"Course I was, Ise never says somethin' I don't mean."

"But, uh, Spot, those can get pretty nasty," Smoke said, biting his thumb nail.

"Is you scared?" Spot looked at the younger newsie, his eyebrows raised.

"Nah, course I ain't, Ise just think it ain't a good ide-" Smoke cut himself off as he caught Spot's warning glance. "I mean, it could be bad for us."

"It ain't gonna be bad for us Smoke. Wese Brooklyn, what can Bronx do to us?" Spot said cockily.

"I guess," Smoke said reluctantly.

"Youse don't sound like youse in," Spot said, shifting Lip on his shoulder. "Do I need to worry 'bout your loyalty?"

"No!" Smoke exclaimed, eyes wide. "No, Ise loyal to ya Spot! Ise in, I was just bein' stupid! Sometimes I don't think so good. I won't say nothin' next time!"

"Good," Spot smiled. "Now that wese got that figured out, how about youse go and tell Jack Kelly that I need to speak to 'im."

"You know I ain't got enough to waste on a trolley!" Smoke said with a confused look to his leader.

"Then I guess youse got a long walk, don't ya?"

***

"Conlon, I heard ya needed to see me," Jack said, waltzing into Spot's room.

"Yeah, I do. You can go now Smoke," Spot said, dismissing the boy.

"Thanks for leadin' me up here," Jack said to the younger boy. Smoke ignored him, giving Jack a small shove with his shoulder as he passed, Spot watching with a small smirk.

"I didn't expect to see ya so soon Kelly," Spot observed, his arms crossed.

"I wasn't plannin' on comin' 'til at least tomorrow."

"I figured, why'd ya change your mind?"

"'Cause that kid said he had another long walk. Then I realized that you'd made him walk. I paid for his trolley fare and figured I might as well come today so I could ask why-."

"You done with story time yet?" Spot asked, staring at Jack disinterestedly.

"No, I wanna know why you'd make a kid walk by hisself right after one of your boys got beaten."

"It ain't your business Kelly. This is my borough and I'll lead it how I want to."

Jack scoffed. "Well you ain't very good at it."

"What was that Kelly? You got somethin' to say to me?"

"Did you call me here for a reason or did you just need someone to yell at, cause I ain't none of your newies. I ain't gonna just sit here and take it like they do."

Spot pushed back his anger, knowing he needed to do whatever it took to get Jack to agree to his proposition. "I called ya here to tell ya that Ise made a decision after I saw Lip."

"Why does that matter to me?" Jack asked, leaning against the dresser.

"I told one of the boys that we was goin' to war with the Bronx."

"Ya what?" Jack blinked in surprise.

"Wese at war with Bronx now."

"Why would ya say that? It ain't that bad! Youse overreactin'!"

"You didn't see him Jack. He still ain't awake!" Spot defended, though he knew Jack was right.

Jack shook his head. "Whatever Conlon. What's this got to do with me?"

"Ise just wanna make sure that if there's any big fights that we gots someone there."

Jack paused, a smirk slowly spreading across his face. "Someone call the papers, Spot Conlon is askin' me for help!"

"No I ain't. Spot Conlon never asks for help from no one. I just think that our workin' together would be...beneficial."

"Youse askin' for help," Jack grinned.

"I don't need help Kelly!" Spot exclaimed angrily.

"If I ain't needed here, maybe I should go..." Jack moved slowly to the door, his hand resting on the doorknob.

"Wait!" Spot's face burned as Jack turned around with a smug smile.

"Yes Spot?"

"I'm not askin' for help, I just-" Jack started to turn the doorknob. "Ise would appreciate your help," Spot said quickly, shooting Jack a glare to hide his embarrassment.

"What was that Spot? Sorry, I didn't quite catch it," Jack said, not bothering to hide his amusement.

"Ise would appreciate it if ya backed us up," Spot scowled. "That good enough for ya?"

"I don't know, there's better ways to say that," Jack taunted.

"I didn't see youse as the fastidious type," Spot muttered.

"Big word for such a small brain," Jack laughed. Spot punched Jack's shoulder and he winced before sobering up. "Theyse been gettin' on my nerves too. Of course we'll back youse. What do ya need us to do?"

Spot smirked. "Wese all need to show 'em what happens when ya get out of control in New York."

"You mean go lookin' for 'em just to start fights?"

"Wese gotta show 'em that we ain't gonna be pushed around. Wese gotta scare 'em. You in?"

Jack stopped and bit his lip, but a second later he nodded, a grin crossing his face. "Wese in."

***

"Spotty Boy!"

Spot groaned as he looked towards the open door. "What're ya doin' here Race?"

"Now there's no need to be tetchy Spot!"

"Higgins," Spot warned.

"Fine, Ise heard that youse had a rough day and I figured I'd come cheer ya up since ya ain't got a girl and ya newsies are too stupid to make conversation."

"Shut your mouth Higgins. My newsies respect me, none of them would ever treat me the way youse and your buddies treat Jack. Nobody anywhere would."

"I do," Race grinned.

"Yeah, well youse different."

"Why, 'cause you actually like me?"

"No," Spot scoffed, rolling his eyes. "'Cause ya never listen to nobody anyway."

"That ain't true! I listen to Jack!" Race argued.

"I've never seen that."

Race stepped further into the room and sprawled himself across the bed, arms crossed behind his head.

"Nice room you've got here Spot."

"Thanks," Spot said from where he sat in a chair in the corner. "Ya think you could get your shoes off of my bed?"

"I could," Race shrugged.

"Then why won't ya?"

"Don't wanna move. If it means that much, you could take 'em off. I wouldn't be offended Conlon."

"I'm sure you wouldn't." The two boys sat quietly, neither saying a word. For all the trouble he gave Spot, Race knew that his friend needed some silence. He waited patiently, a trait uncommonly found in him, for Spot to talk again.

"I didn't mean to declare war on Bronx," Spot admitted after a minute.

"It was a pretty bad idea," Race said.

"I thought that youse was here to cheer me up, not make me feel worse."

"I ain't gonna lie to ya. Wese never been the kind to save each other's feelins. Youse tough, I thought you could handle it."

"I don't regret it," Spot said firmly. "Theyse messed with us one time too many."

"If ya don't regret it then why is you talkin' bout it?"

"It would've happened eventually Race, you know that. Just look at what theyse doin' to you guys!"

"Yeah, it would have happened," Race agreed, rolling a cigar between his fingers.

"Then why's it a bad idea?"

"There are smarter, more logical ways to be doin' stuff like that."

"You're one to talk about logic," Spot muttered under his breath. "I hadn't planned on sayin' it right then, I was gonna wait a couple of days."

"Gotta get that temper under control. It ain't good to speak 'fore ya think, least that's what Specs says," Race smiled.

"I ain't got a temper." Race cocked an eyebrow at his friend who groaned. "Fine! I got a little temper," Spot said with an annoyed huff.

"Yes you do, and it's a big problem," Race agreed.

"I ain't the only one who's got a problem." At Race's confused glance Spot continued. "Youse always got one o' those."

Race looked down at the cigar in his hand. "These things don't hurt no one!"

"I still think you should stop smokin' 'em so much."

"Maybe you're right, but I like 'em and if Jack hasn't stopped me, you sure ain't."

Spot glared at Race and leaned forward, swiping the cigar from him.

"Hey! That's my cigar!" Race complained.

"It's mine now."

"C'mon Spot!" Race whined. "I paid for that!"

"You paid for it?" Spot asked skeptically, receiving a nod from Race. "With actual money? That's what payin' for somethin' means, it means ya gave real money for it instead of just takin' it."

"Ha, you're real funny," Race gave a small glare.

"It ain't Corona," Spot said, observing the cigar closely.

"I can't afford no Corona! Who do ya think I am, Jack?"

"Nah, you're too blond and too smart."

Race grinned, running a hand through his golden curls. "I'm gonna tell him you said that."

"Go ahead," Spot smirked. "Kelly knows what I think of him."

"I didn't know you had a problem with Jack."

"I don't, I just think he's missin' half his brain."

Race laughed and crossed his ankles, staring up at the ceiling. Spot glanced toward the window at the setting sun.

"You should probably head back, it's gonna be dark soon and I don't trust Bronx, 'specially after today."

"You do care!" Race cooed as he sat up.

"No, I just think that youse been stomped enough these last few weeks. Every man deserves a break, unless youse a lousy cockroach like Bronx boys is."

Race smiled as he headed to the door. He knew what Spot was saying behind his 'tough guy' way of responding.

"Youse finally right about somethin'. Jack will want me home soon. I'm gonna hit the road." Race opened the door. He was stopped by a hand on his shoulder.

"Be careful Higgins. I don't want no heads gettin' cracked on my turf, got it?"

"Got it," Race grinned.

***

Hook swung his fist toward the boy, once again connecting with his jaw. The kid cried out and finally fell to the ground.

"Get off the ground, you worthless little-" The child slowly pushed himself back onto his feet, stumbling slightly. The boy's head whipped to the side a second later as Hook backhanded him. The child couldn't hold back his cry, his hand flying to his stinging cheek.

"Oh no, the poor little baby can't handle a bit of pain," Hook sneered. "Maybe ya should've followed the rules."

None of the boys flinched as Hook threw the small child to the ground. They'd witnessed it many times before. They didn't move until the door swung open.

"Hook, I've got news for ya," a dark haired boy spoke happily.

"Can't ya see I'm in the middle of somethin'?" Hook growled.

"This is more important than that."

"It better be. You!" Hook barked as he looked back down at the boy who still lay on the floor. "Youse are pathetic! Stop that cryin' right now! There ain't no cryin' here!" The child immediately quieted, wiping tears from his face. "Youse are gonna get out of Bronx and stay out until you get me what ya owe me, got it? If I catch you back here before then, youse dead. Understand?"

The boy nodded and Hook glared again, giving him a kick to the stomach. "I expect a real answer. Do you understand?"

"Y-yes s-sir."

"Now get outta here." The boy scrambled to his feet and hurried out the door. "What do ya have for me today Pipe?"

"Ya know Kelly?"

Hook nodded. "Course I know Kelly! Ise met Kelly. Any more stupid questions?"

Pipe swallowed nervously as Hook's hand drifted toward the knife that he kept in his belt.

"I seen him leavin' Brooklyn and the inside man there said that he and Spot made a deal. Theyse both workin' together now."

"They are?" Pipe nodded and Hook's face grew red. "I offered Kelly an easy way out. I was civil with him. I showed him mercy, didn't I boys?" His boys nodded their agreement and he continued. "Wese would've left 'em alone, but then they goes and joins Brooklyn."

Hook paced back and forth, growing angrier with each word and each step. "Theyse stupid! There's no other explanation! Wese been beatin' 'em and theyse still willin' to fight us! Why?" He paused, a shadow seeming to cross his face.

"The only possible reason is that youse ain't been doin' your jobs right. Youse ain't fightin' hard enough." Hook let out a yell and in a flash he grabbed the handle of his knife and through it across the room. It planted itself in the wall, just an inch from a boy's head. The boy flinched, shaking as Hook walked slowly over to pull the knife out of the wall.

"Youse all need to do more damage. Kelly and his boys ain't learned their lesson yet, but they will cause if I don't see any work bein' done, youse all gonna end up like Timmy did. Or maybe Bones, that was fun. Maybe you'll even have the misfortune of meetin' the same sticky endin' as Watch, but that was a bit violent. Hard to clean up."

Hook smirked as he looked around the room of frightened newsies. "So boys, are youse gonna teach them a lesson?"

***

Another chapter!!!! I'm in the airport right now about to board a plane to London and I'm freaking out!!! I thought updating would help calm me down.

Really, I'll probably read Newsies fanfic and watch Newsies Live the whole trip, because who can focus on being scared while watching Newsies?

Anyways, thanks for reading!
-Anna